Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of holmium laser resection for superficial bladder cancer (HoLRBT) compared with electrocautery transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Methods Such databases as MEDLINE, EMbase, CBM, and The Cochrane Library were searched by computer to include the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about holmium laser and transurethral electroresection for treating superficial bladder cancer. Meta-analyses were performed by RevMan 5.0 software after the data were abstracted and the quality was evaluated. Results Nine RCTs involving 1 323 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed in comparison with the TURBT, there were significant differences in HoLRBT for less intraoprative bleeding volume (WMD= –6.04, 95%CI –6.90 to –5.19), shorter mean bladder irrigating time (WMD= –14.99, 95%CI –17.58 to –12.40), shorter time of indwelling urethral catheter (WMD= –2.46, 95%CI –3.59 to –1.34), fewer postoperative complications such as the obturator nerve reflex (OR=0.03, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.09), fewer events of bladder perforation (OR=0.12, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.31) and lower postoperative recurrence rate (OR=0.70, 95%CI 0.52 to 0.96). Conclusions The current evidence shows that HoLRBT is a feasible, safe, and effective alternative for the management of superficial bladder cancer because of few damages to bladder tissues and less operation bleeding.